USA, e-commerce and logistics

Shipping to the USA might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.

A well informed approach can help you connect with new consumers and increase revenue. Read on to find out the best, cheapest and quickest way to deliver parcels from the UK to places like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix and more.

Image of the statue of liberty representing the USA

Why ship to the USA?

The U.S. is the world’s largest national economy and leading global trader. Americans generate and earn more than twenty percent of the world’s total income. 1

The good news is a significant portion of that income is now being spent online. In fact, online shopping has become so common that over three quarters of the country have shopped online at some point in their lives. 2

These figures are set to increase further in the future with retail e-commerce sales forecast to grow by nearly nine percent between 2024 and 2029. 3

  • Clothing
    Products most bought online
  • 16.4%
    E-commerce percentage of total retail sales
  • 43%
    Americans prefer to shop online

The e-commerce landscape

Over the past decade, the e-commerce market in the USA has been constantly evolving and has now grown to be one of the largest in the world. There has never been a better time to venture into the U.S. market. Retail e-commerce sales are forecast to grow at a fast pace in the coming years. By 2029, U.S. consumers’ appetite for online shopping is forecast to bring in 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars. 4

Opportunities

The Christmas holidays are a busy time for online e- commerce shopping. Since 2019, over half of U.S. shoppers have elected to do their holiday shopping via e-commerce rather than in store. 5 Look out for Black Friday and Cyber Monday too.

The rise of e-commerce revenue in the USA 2018-2028

Revenue of the e-commerce industry in the U.S. 2018-2028

Revenue in billion U.S. dollars

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/272391/us-retail-e-commerce-sales-forecast

Logistics

The first thing to consider when preparing a package to be delivered to the USA is the journey it will take. Unlike domestic orders in this country that are delivered from one postal hub to another via road, a parcel going across the U.S. might transit through trains, planes, lorries or boats.

The essentials

Transit Times4-7 working days
Maximum Dimensions Length: 66cm max
Height: 43cm max
Width: 43cm max
Length + Girth ≤ 125cm
Maximum Weight25lbs / 11kg
Maximum Container ValueUSD 3,000
Low-Value LimitUSD 0.00
Duties & Tariffs Duty is applicable on all parcels regardless of value (not just those over USD 800). To calculate costs you will need to work out:
DDP AvailableYes
DDP FeeTBC
Clearance FeeTBC

Good to know

As of 29 August 2025, the U.S. de minimis low value threshold will cease. All imports, regardless of size or value, will be subject to duty/sales tax. Every item SAMOS sends is Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). That means we help you cover import duties, taxes and customs clearance fees upfront, as opposed to Delivery Duties Unpaid (DDU) which can result in customers receiving unexpected costs at their end.

What our experts say:

“Consumers in the USA are becoming increasingly more confident in purchasing their products from abroad, and there is a lot of untapped potential there for UK e-commerce businesses.”

Simon Perkins, Commercial Director, SAMOS.

Keep in mind

An international seller who makes sales in the U.S., regardless of whether they are based there or not, may have economic nexus. This means that if you make a certain dollar amount of sales in a state, or a certain number of transactions with buyers in that state, then you are required to collect sales tax in that state.

About half the states in the U.S. currently have economic nexus laws. You can read more about each US state’s economic nexus laws here.

Example:

In Kentucky, any international seller who has made more than $100,000 in sales in the state in the previous or current calendar year, or who made more than 200 sales transactions in the state in the previous or current calendar year, is required to comply with Kentucky’s sales tax laws.

Compliance means registering for a Kentucky sales tax permit and collecting sales tax from any buyers in Kentucky.

To find out more about how SAMOS can help you achieve fast and cheap deliveries to the U.S.A get in touch today

1 https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/economy-trade

2 https://www.statista.com/topics/2477/online-shopping-behavior/#topicOverview

3 https://www.statista.com/topics/2477/online-shopping-behavior/#topicOverview

4 https://www.statista.com/topics/2443/us-ecommerce/#topicOverview

5 https://www.statista.com/topics/2477/online-shopping-behavior/#topicOverview